Abstract
“A Career in Public Broadcasting, from Corvallis to Portland”
February 19, 2015
Location: Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, Oregon. Watch Video | Download Transcript (PDF)
In the interview, Clendenin describes her family background and upbringing, with particular attention paid to her early interest in music and her pursuit of a music education in high school and college. From there she notes her relocating to Hawaii and Lake Tahoe, her eventual move to Oregon, and the roots of her involvement with Wildlife Safari in southern Oregon.
Clendenin next discusses her enrollment at Oregon State University as a Zoology student, her participation in university theatrical productions, and the beginnings of her association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. She likewise reflects on her experiences as a non-traditional student in the late 1980s, shares her memories of performing in the Mitchell Playhouse, and outlines her involvement with various multicultural groups on campus.
The remainder of the session focuses on Clendenin's career in radio and television. She speaks of her involvement with student media while an undergraduate, discusses the broadcast facilities then available at OSU, and recounts some of the early history of public broadcasting at Oregon State. She then charts her career advancement within OPB and shares her memories of OPB's move away from Corvallis in 2008. The interview concludes with a discussion of Clendenin's children and the advice that she would give to students of today.